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Payton Sparks

Ball State Center Payton Sparks Enters Transfer Portal, Visits Indiana

6-foot-9 center Payton Sparks averaged 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds for Ball State, but he entered the transfer portal after his sophomore season.

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Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers
Ball State Cardinals
Ball State Cardinals

Indiana is hosting an unofficial visit for Ball State center Payton Sparks on Monday.

During his sophomore season, Sparks, a 6-foot-9 center, averaged 13.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.9 blocks per game. He posted 10 double-doubles this year, earning second-team All-MAC honors. Sparks has two years of remaining eligibility. 

Under first-year head coach Mike Lewis, who played for Bob Knight at Indiana from 1996-2000, Sparks was third on the team in scoring and first in rebounding. He shot 59.4 percent overall and made 2-of-5 3-point attempts. 

Sparks was named MAC Freshman of the year in 2021-22 when he scored 13.5 points per game with 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.5 blocks. He also earned a spot on the 2022 Kyle Macy Freshmen All-America Team. Sparks shot 70.3 percent at the free throw line as a freshman, but that number dropped to 52.5 percent as a sophomore. 

Sparks, a Winchester, Ind. native, drew interest from Indiana when he entered the transfer portal after his freshman season, too, but he decided to return to Ball State for his sophomore year. Indiana has a large void to fill with the departure of veteran forwards Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson.

  • LOGAN DUNCOMB ENTERS TRANSFER PORTAL: After playing in 18 games across two seasons, Indiana center Logan Duncomb entered the transfer portal on Thursday. CLICK HERE
  • IU MEETS WITH CHRIS LEDLUM: After averaging 18.8 points and 8.5 rebounds this season, Harvard Chris Ledlum is planning to meet with Indiana on Thursday. CLICK HERE
  • IU MEETS WITH NICK TIMBERLAKE: After averaging 17.7 points on 41.6 percent 3-point shooting this season, Towson guard transfer Nick Timberlake plans to meet with Indiana coach Mike Woodson on Thursday. CLICK HERE
  • BIG TEN TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: Welcome to our Big Ten men's basketball transfer portal tracker, where we'll keep you updated on the latest incoming and outgoing transfer news for all 14 Big Ten teams this offseason. CLICK HERE
  • MAJOR CHANGES EXPECTED FOR IU: With graduating seniors, NBA Draft potential and the transfer portal, Indiana's roster will look much different in year three under coach Mike Woodson. CLICK HERE
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